March 2024 Symposium of the Academy of Masonic Knowledge

Event occurs in the Deike Auditorium, located within the Freemasons Cultural Center at Grand Lodge Hall, at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.

Please recognize that a cost is incurred to the program for your registration. If you pre-register and subsequently determine that you will be unable to attend, please have the Masonic courtesy to cancel your reservation by the same method and providing the same information.

Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m.

A lunch (requested contribution of $10) will be served at noon and the program will be completed by 3:00 p.m. All Masons are welcome to attend. Dress is coat and tie.

Speakers

Bro. Ralph C. Shelton II

Topic: Magic - and Affinity - in Masonry

Wor. Bro. Shelton traces the thread, that Masonic thread, that connected the great magicians of the Golden Age, and introduces the Cup & Ball Lodge, an affinity lodge of Magician Masons, discussing the unique bond among Masons who share a common interest in addition to their Masonic brotherhood. Naturally, he also includes a magical performance.

A lifelong magician,Bro. Shelton is a member of the legendary Long Beach Mystics, as well as the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians, and the Invisible Lodge International. He retired from a successful career as a professional magician in the corporate and resort markets to study law.

He is a member of and regular performer at the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, where he is also served on the Board of Directors. His 35-year law career has been as a litigator and expert in governance of non-profit and mutual benefit organizations. He is a frequent lecturer and mentor in the legal field, and is the senior partner of Schiff & Shelton, a boutique law firm in Newport Beach.

An active Freemason and student of Masonic Philosophy and Masonic Law, he has founded two lodges, including California’s first Affinity Lodge, Ye Olde Cup and Ball Lodge #880, a lodge of magician Masons. He supports Masonic philanthropy, and is a trustee of the California Masonic Foundation, also serving as Vice President and General Counsel of the California Scottish Rite Foundation. He is a past master of Orange Grove Lodge No. 293, and recently served as the Grand Chaplin of the Grand Lodge of California.

Bro. Brett A. Gordon, Ph.D.

Topic: Heraldry and Masonry: A Story in Symbols

Brother Gordon has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for over 35 years. He has served as Master of a Lodge in both the United States and in Canada. He is a Past Grand Commander of the Gradn Commandery of Florida.

He is an avid golfer and loves traveling with his wife and kids to new and exciting places. His love of Masonry and travel is matched only by his interest in Heraldry, which begin when he joined the Order of DeMolay in his teenage years. He is a founding member of the Society of Scottish Armigers and is a long time member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland. His Coat-of-Arms was matriculated to him upon the death of his Father, by Lord Lyon of Scotland.

Often referred to as the “shorthand of history,” heraldry uses symbols to record the heritage and achievements of individuals and organizations. Much like Masonry, the symbols of heraldry can be interpreted by individuals to represent different aspects of a person’s life. Also, like Masonry, the art of heraldry is governed by specific rules and language to ensure the “innovations of men” are kept to a minimum.

As modern Masonry is said to have been born from the cathedral builders of the middle ages, so too was modern heraldry born around the same time. This presentation will review the purpose of heraldry and its use of symbols to convey a meaningful message to others, while demonstrating a close relationship to the use of symbols and purposes of Masonry as practiced today in the modern era.

Speaker information may be found at https://pamasonicacademy.org/meetings/